For workers who are new to the field of design, it is important to first clearly understand the difference between UX and UI. Frequently, the terms “User Experience (UX)” and “User Interface (UI)” are often mentioned together, but they refer to very different aspects of the product development process and serve different purposes. Today, we talk briefly about the difference between UX and UI and the process of learning UX for newcomers.
UX vs. UI: Definitions and Distinctions
What is UX?
User Experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products. The primary goal of UX design is to create easy, efficient, relevant, and all-around pleasant experiences for the user. It focuses on the journey to solve a problem, the process of integration, and the overall feel of the experience, not just the interaction with the product.
What is UI?
User Interface (UI), on the other hand, is the layout of how a product looks and functions. UI design focuses on the product’s surface, its presentation, and how each element of the product interacts visually with the user. It deals with the specific aspects of the product’s interfaces such as button displays, typography, color schemes, and all other visual elements.
Key Differences
- Scope and Focus: UX is a comprehensive, non-linear scope that includes a variety of processes, in which the interface is only a part. UI is strictly confined to the graphical layout and functionality.
- Objective: The objective of UX design is to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty through the utility, ease of use, and pleasure provided in the interaction with a product. UI design’s goal is to visually guide the user through a product’s interface and interact with them in an intuitive way.
- Tools and Practices: UX involves research to analyze and optimize the user’s interaction with the company and its products. UI, however, is more focused on graphic design principles, and employs tools like color palettes, typography, and design software.
UX Design: An Inventive Approach
1. Imitative Learning
Begin your journey in UX design by immersively recreating your favorite interfaces:
- Download design software like Figma.
- Capture screenshots of admired web or mobile apps.
- Try your hand at redesigning 1–2 screens within Figma, utilizing its resources and community for guidance.
- Aim to design a total of 50 screens, developing a robust technical foundation.
During my early years as a designer, tackling 75 projects paved the way for substantial skill acquisition beyond many formal educations.
2. Mock Design Projects
Advance to creating mock projects to refine your skills:
- Use sites like sharpen.design to generate design prompts.
- Allocate 3-7 days to each project, dedicating one day to each phase of the design process (e.g., research, ideation, prototyping).
- Document your process comprehensively in a tool like Notion and seek feedback weekly.
- Complete at least 10 mock projects to solidify your abilities.
3. Regular Design Reviews
Seek out constructive feedback to enhance your projects:
- Utilize platforms like ADPList for free access to design mentors.
- Arrange weekly calls with designers who have 2-3 years of experience for critiques.
- Discuss your design challenges and iterate based on feedback.
Engaging with experienced designers is crucial for real-world learning and improvement.
4. Daily Design Exercises
Develop your aesthetic judgment through daily exercises:
- Choose a design category daily (e.g., logo design).
- Explore 10–15 designs, classifying each as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and noting the reasons.
- This practice sharpens your intuitive sense of design quality.
5. Seek Design Inspiration Passively
Surround yourself with design influences to spark creativity:
- Use tools like the Panda plugin to transform your browser’s new tab into a hub of design inspiration.
- Subscribe to design-centric newsletters like uxdesignweekly.com.
- Observe and analyze design elements in everyday environments, such as retail stores.
6. Educational YouTube Content
Immerse yourself in the world of design through video content:
- Spend 30 minutes daily watching videos on design topics, including recorded conference talks, mock interviews, and vlogs.
- YouTube channels like WeAreDesignX provide valuable insights and real-world applications.
7. Engage in Real-World Projects
Apply your skills in practical settings:
- Offer your design services pro bono to local NGOs or engage in small freelance projects via platforms like 99Designs and Upwork.
- Participate in hackathons to test and improve your design skills in a competitive environment.
- Focus on gaining experience and learning rather than earning.
8. Build Your Community
Connect and grow with others in the design community:
- Join online communities such as designerslack.community.
- Participate in free design events and engage with professionals on platforms like Twitter.
- Learning and growing together with peers can significantly enhance your journey.
By following these innovative steps and committing to at least three months of focused learning and practice, you will significantly enhance your capacity to design, iterate, and think creatively in UX design.
